24th International Symposium on Analytical and Environmental Problems

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24th International Symposium on Analytical and Environmental Problems

ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY FOR IRRIGATION IN THE AREA OF POMORAVLJE DISTRICT

Radmila Pivić¹, Aleksandra Stanojković-Sebić¹, Zoran Dinić¹, Magdalena Knežević¹, Jelena Maksimović¹

1Institute of Soil Science, Belgrade, Teodora Drajzera 7, Serbia e-mail: drradmila@pivic.com

Abstract

The assessment of the quality of water for irrigation in the Republic of Serbia is carried out using the traditional classifications by Stebler, Neiggebauer and the classification of the US Laboratory for saline soils and by the more recent FAO and RSC classifications. In twenty selected locations in the area of Pomoravlje area in 2016, samples of irrigation water were sampled within the existing irrigation systems or at the locations of agricultural areas where the installation of irrigation systems is planned.

The following parameters were analyzed in the samples: pH value-potentiometric; EC- electroconductivity-electrochemical; dry residue-thermogravimetric; ionic balance: CO₃^2-; HCO3-

; Cl^--volumetric. The acid-available fraction of heavy metals and other microelements (As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) and SO42-

; Ca²⁺; Mg²⁺ preparation and reading on the ICP- OES method EPA 200.7; Content K ⁺, Na⁺ -plamenephotometric; SAR (Sodium Adsorpcio Ratio)-calculating. The above analyzes were carried out to evaluate the above classifications.

In all tested samples, the content of heavy metals and the tested microelements was within the limits of maximum permissible concentrations. Modern classifications require more detailed analysis of the chemical properties of the tested parameters than traditional ones, while they provide a more complex approach to the assessment of the usability of water and they should have priority in the application.

Key words: Irrigation, water, quality, classifications

Introduction

The sustainability of water resources depends to a large extent on the proper management and efficient use of available water resources. The testing of groundwater quality has become indispensable especially in developing countries where there is a growing shortage of surface waters [8]. In addition to the basic purpose, which allows the survival of life on earth, the use of water for agricultural purposes, primarily irrigation, is certainly invaluable. Irrigation aims to meet the ever-growing needs for food due to population growth [1]. Given that in many areas of the world [11] without irrigation, agricultural production would not be possible, it is necessary to pay special attention to the available water resources both on quantity and on their quality. Inadequate water quality for irrigation can significantly reduce the expected economic yield of agricultural production [4, 19]. Water quality is a element used to describe the physical, chemical and biological parameters of water characteristics and defines the suitability for a specific purpose and used in the decision-making process [7]. Water of inadequate quality can affect the salinization, alkalization and deterioration of water-physical soil properties. It is very important to estimate the risk of salinization of springs for irrigation of any agricultural area in order to maximize the yield of cultivated crops [18]. There are traditional and modern methods and classifications for assessing the quality of water for irrigation. None of them can be considered absolutely applicable to all conditions in plant production [16].

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Description of the field of research and methodology of sampling

The Pomoravlje Administrative District, where research was conducted in 2016, ranges from 43ô43'-44ô19's north latitude and from 20ô to 21ô50's east longitude. The irrigation water sampling site coordinates are presented together with results of the analyzes in Table 1. At the sites where research was conducted, the drip irrigation system is applied at nine locations; in eight places plants are irrigated by artificial rain, and within the three parcels it is planned to use some of the irrigation methods in the following period. Water samples used for irrigation were taken from the well at eighteen locations, while from natural sources, river, water were sampled at two locations. Sampling was conducted in accordance with the procedure documented in the professional literature.

Research methods

In the irrigation water samples, the following parameters are determined: pH-potentiometric (SRPS H.Z1.111: 1987) [12], electrical conductivity (EC) - (SRPS EN 27888: 1993) - electrometric [5]; the total dissolved solids content (TDS) - gravimetric [9]; CO₃^2-; HCO₃^-; Cl- volumetric, K⁺; Na⁺ - plamenfotometric (APHA) [2]. The content of heavy metals and other toxic elements (As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) and SO42-

; Ca²⁺; Mg²⁺ are determined by EPA method 200.7, [13] on the ICAP 6300 ICP optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES);

(SAR) - calculating [17].

Results and discussion

In relation to the Stebler classification, based on the estimation of the irrigation coefficient detrmined by the content of Na⁺, Cl^-, SO42-

, all the tested irrigation water samples are of good quality, which means that it can be used without special measures to prevent the accumulation of harmful salts in the soil. Based on the Neiggebauer classification [14], which takes into account the total amount of salt in irrigation water in interaction with the concentration of Na⁺ with Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, the tested samples, 88.5% belong to the Ia class, in which the dry residue is smaller of 700 mg l^-1, and the ratio (Ca+ Mg) : ( Na+ K) is > 3 and 11.5%, Ib class, where the dry residue is less than 700 mg l^-1, and the ratio (Ca+Mg): >3. These are impeccable water with ameliorative characteristics of flushing salt marsh.

Experts from the University of Riverside, USA [6] made the largest contribution to the study of irrigation water quality and its classification as regards the benefits of irrigation of agricultural crops, and it is applied worldwide. The basis for assessing the method is EC and SAR. In the tested water samples for irrigation, the C1-S1 class belongs to 7.7% of the tested samples with characteristic that EC≤0.250 dS m^-1; SAR 0-10. These are waters where there is a small risk of dredging / alkalization, or water suitable for irrigation. 69.2% of the tested samples belong to the Class C2-S1 class of water, in which the EC values range from 0.250 to 0.750 dS m^-1 and can be used for irrigation of plants with a mean salt tolerance. The remaining 23.1% of the tested samples belongs to the class C3-S1, in which the EC values range from 0.750 to 2.250 dS m^-1, and their use requires the application of special measures in the prevention of soil depletion.

Modified FAO classification [3], analyzes in detail the influence of dissolved salt in irrigation water and its impact on the water-physical properties of the soil, primarily on infiltration. It takes into account the risk of sedimentation, based on the amount of electrical conductivity (EC) and salt concentration in the test sample (TDS).

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analyzing Na⁺ effects through different relationships with other tested substances (Na₂CO₃) was determined on the basis of the RSC-Residual Sodium Carbonate classification [10].

Based on this classification, 92.3% of the tested irrigation water samples belong to the class of good water (RSC <1.25) and 7.7% water class at the usability limit (RSC = 1.25-2.50).

The obtained values of the content of the studied microelements and heavy metals are presented in Table 1. The interpretation was prepared on the basis of the limit values in the Ordinance on the permitted quantities of hazardous and harmful substances in soil and irrigation water [15] and by the data from literature [3] (*).

The content of trace elements and heavy metals in irrigation water samples in all tested irrigation water samples was below the maximum permissible concentration (MAC).

Table 1. Chemical and physical properties of water samples for irrigation

bdl-belov detection limit

N-Classification Neiggebauer [14]; US- Classification Laboratory for saline soil University Riverside[6]

Figure 3. Representation of tested samples according to the classifications of irrigation water

As B Cd Cr Cu Fe Ni Pb Zn

X Y

1 518133 4867123 7.00 0.99 850 0.58 bdl 0.0772 bdl 0.001 0.006 0.0544 0.0021 0.0013 0.0198

2 522588 4868034 7.10 0.72 550 0.37 bdl bdl bdl 0.0047 0.0068 bdl 0.0026 bdl 0.3372

3 507682 4855615 7.50 0.56 500 0.37 bdl bdl bdl 0.0013 0.0126 bdl 0.0001 0.0012 0.141

4 519887 4866458 7.30 0.85 640 0.42 bdl bdl bdl 0.0254 0.0599 bdl bdl 0.0078 0.0544

5 510021 4854678 7.40 0.57 570 0.58 bdl 0.0128 bdl 0.0019 0.0058 bdl 0.009 0.0023 bdl

6 529462 4867180 8.10 0.63 480 0.52 bdl 0.0213 bdl 0.0008 0.0072 bdl 0.0007 bdl bdl

7 509624 4856500 8.40 1.12 920 0.48 bdl 0.0939 bdl 0.0038 0.0101 bdl 0.0053 0.0047 0.0044

9 533345 4868033 7.10 1.4 110 0.63 bdl bdl bdl 0.0017 0.0059 bdl 0.0003 0.0003 bdl

10 532788 4870253 7.10 1.12 120 0.45 bdl bdl bdl 0.0139 0.0311 bdl 0.0047 0.0038 0.0401

11 542816 4881028 7.25 0.54 360 0.65 bdl bdl bdl 0.0005 0.0204 bdl 0.0404 0.0022 0.5134

13 530215 4887712 7.20 0.21 180 0.45 bdl bdl bdl 0.0013 0.0069 bdl bdl bdl bdl

14 528908 4886074 7.50 0.52 410 0.95 bdl bdl bdl 0.0008 0.0073 bdl bdl 0.0046 bdl

17 530419 4856321 7.40 0.36 310 0.36 bdl bdl bdl 0.0011 0.0418 0.0348 0.0001 0.0049 bdl

18 517732 4898714 7.60 0.39 330 0.37 bdl bdl bdl 0.0009 0.0306 bdl 0.001 bdl bdl

to to to to to to to to to

0.05 1.00 0.01 0.50 0.10 5* 0.10 0.10 1.00

MAC

(mg l^-1) TDS

(mg l^-1)

N^o Coordinate

pH EC (dSm^-1)

SAR (mg l^-1)

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Conclusion

Based on the obtained and analyzed results of the quality study of irrigation water, it can be concluded that water from sampling sites can be used without restrictions to irrigate cultivated crops and there is no risk to have a negative impact on the structure of the soil on which it is applied. Nevertheless, the tests should be carried out periodically irrigation water and soil in order to prevent the creation of a rupture and breakdown of the structure.

Acknowledgment: This research was financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia [Project TP 37006].

References

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